Tag: The Sporting News

Vikings still in top 10 of NFL analyst’s latest power rankings

After losing back-to-back games and left tackle Christian Darrisaw, for the season, the Minnesota Vikings are falling down power rankings.

To say that things have not gone the Minnesota Vikings’ way this past week would be an understatement. The team has lost two games in the span of a week after winning their first five. They were a miraculous Hail Mary in Washington away from going from first to last in the division. Worst of all, they’ve lost their star left tackle for the remainder of the season.

All of that combined has led to a dramatic drop in the latest NFL power rankings from The Sporting News’ NFL analyst Vinnie Iyer. Despite the loss last week, the Vikings were still sitting in Iyer’s top 3 coming into this week. Now, after back-to-back losses and the Vikings’ defense looking uncharacteristically bad in both — along with the loss of Christian Darrisaw — the Vikings have fallen to the 9th spot.

That six-place drop was matched only by the Baltimore Ravens, who fell from the fourth spot to the 10th, and surpassed by the New York Jets, who fell from the 23rd spot to the 30th.

If there’s any consolation for the Vikings and their fans amid this rough stretch, the team’s schedule gets a lot easier in the next few weeks. After tough games against both the Lions and the Rams, the Vikings get the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans in their next three games.

Minnesota has a lot to work out on the defense, as that has been the biggest pain point these past two weeks. They’re also going to need to figure out what they’re going to do in the wake of the Darrisaw injury, whether that’s rolling with David Quessenberry, shifting Blake Brandel over to tackle, moving Brian O’Neill over to the left side of the line, or signing a free agent offensive tackle.

Fortunately, these next three weeks should afford them time to work out those kinks. However, nothing comes easy in the NFL, and Minnesota can’t overlook these next three opponents.

Minnesota Vikings continue their ascent up NFL power rankings

The Minnesota Vikings are definitively one of the best teams in the NFL after four weeks, and their ascent up NFL power rankings shows that.

Very few people anticipated the Minnesota Vikings being one of just two undefeated teams after Week 4 when the NFL season started. Yet, that’s where quarterback Sam Darnold has the team sitting. Add in a sweltering defense commanded by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and it’s undeniable that the Vikings are one of the best teams in the league this season. This stance is reflected in many outlets’ power rankings heading into Week 5.

ESPN: No. 2 (Up three spots from last week)

Brian Flores’ defense has been one of the NFL’s best stories this season, and there are no glaring issues. But after the group allowed 22 points in the fourth quarter to the Packers, it’s worth thinking about age and snap counts. Of the 10 defensive players who have started all four games, three are 30 or older and six are 28 or older. So far this season, the Vikings’ defense has played the league’s third-most defensive snaps (272). Safety Harrison Smith (35), cornerback Stephon Gilmore (34) and No. 3 corner Shaq Griffin (29) constitute one of the NFL’s oldest secondaries. — Kevin Seifert

Pro Football Talk: No. 3 (Up four spots)

Between the players and the coaching on both sides of the ball, they’ve got the most balanced team in the league. — Mike Florio

The Sporting News: No. 2. (Up two spots)

Sam Darnold has maximized the offensive pop with Justin Jefferson and the rest of the receivers. The defense continues to dictate terms with big plays, sacks, and takeaways. Kevin O’Connell easily has the best team in the NFC so far. — Vinnie Iyer

Vikings QB Sam Darnold ranked among the league’s worst starters

The Sporting News’ NFL analyst Vinnie Iyer ranks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold as the third-worst starter in the league for 2024

Even before J.J. McCarthy injured his knee and was lost for the season, we knew that the Minnesota Vikings would head into the season with Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback. The question wasn’t if Darnold would start, it was how long he would remain the starter. It was assumed that it was only a matter of time before Darnold’s play would warrant a switch.

Now, that’s not an option, and Darnold has a firm hold on the starting job, and the Vikings are going to be in a world of hurt if Darnold gets hurt or struggles as he has through most of his career. That history of struggle has many pessimistic about Darnold’s future with the Vikings, and the Vikings’ chances this season.

Among those who are pessimistic is The Sporting News NFL analyst Vinnie Iyer. Iyer recently released his rankings of all the starting quarterbacks in the NFL, ranked 1-32, and Darnold’s placement on the list doesn’t instill confidence that Minnesota can win much in 2024.

The Vikings were able to stay in playoff contention for much of the 2023 season with a quarterback carousel after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles, so it’s possible the talent on the roster — particularly on defense — can carry the team once again. But they’ll need to with Darnold ranking as the 30th starting quarterback in the league, according to Iyer.

That ranking puts Darnold ahead of just two starting quarterbacks: Las Vegas Raiders’ Gardner Minshew, who was a surprise choice over last year’s starter Aidan O’Connell, and New England Patriots first-round pick Drake Maye, who still hasn’t been officially named the starter over Jacoby Brissett.

That alone speaks volumes about how Iyer — and, to a certain extent, the general populace — sees Darnold as a starter. And that pessimism is warranted for the former third-overall selection. Darnold has famously struggled throughout his career, at one point becoming a meme for proclaiming he was “seeing ghosts out there.”

Still, the talent around Darnold is strong, with arguably the best wide receiver in the league, Justin Jefferson, to throw to. He also has one of the better left tackles in the league, Christian Darrisaw, to protect him. If ever there was a time for Darnold to succeed, it’s now. He’s never had a better supporting cast around him, save for his time in San Francisco — where he seldom saw the field behind Brock Purdy.

Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner makes NFL analyst’s All-Preseason team

Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner made NFL analyst Jacob Camenker’s All-Preseason team, with four others earning honorable mention

Preseason football is important for everyone on the roster, to varying degrees. For established veterans, it’s important to get back into the flow of things after an offseason of inactivity. For players fighting for a roster spot, it’s important to get the reps and show coaching staffs – both their own and the 31 other teams’ – that they belong in this league.

For rookies, like Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner, it’s their first chance to see professional action and to show why they were drafted.

While Turner didn’t see much action during this year’s preseason, he made an impression when he was out there. So much so that he’s been named to one NFL analyst’s All-Preseason team. Jacob Camenker of The Sporting News released his First-Team All-Preseason team Monday, and Turner is one of his two choices at EDGE.

Speed was the name of the game for Turner this preseason. He used his athletic ability to beat Saints offensive tackle Andrus Peat in the team’s first game and got a key sack in the red zone. That gave fans and the league just a glimpse of the talent that made the Vikings trade back up into the first round to grab Turner.

If Turner can continue to develop and maintain that speed, he should be a dangerous weapon in a Brian Flores-led defense. Turner only saw 31 snaps this preseason, but it was more than enough to show that his first-round selection was warranted.

Along with Turner, the Vikings earned four honorable mentions on Camenker’s All-Preseason team: Quarterback Jaren Hall, wide receiver Trishton Jackson, defensive tackle Taki Taimani, and kicker Will Reichard all received nods for their summer performances.

The Sporting News has Ducks in a rematch with Ohio State in Pasadena

According to a scenario The Sporting News laid out, Oregon and Ohio State would meet in the CFP quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl.

As if one game with Ohio State inside Autzen Stadium isn’t enough of a season highlight for the Oregon football team, The Sporting News has the two teams facing off again in the Rose Bowl.

According to the long time publication, the Ducks and Buckeyes will play in Pasadena in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal for the chance at the semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.

Unfortunately for Oregon, TSN has the Buckeyes moving on to play Notre Dame, the No. 6 seed in their projections.

In the earlier round, The Sporting News has the No. 7-seeded Ducks hosting the No. 10-seed Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin in what they describe as a “shootout.” Oregon’s defense might differ with that particular assessment of how that matchup would go down, however.

If the Ducks and Buckeyes were to meet in the playoffs, it could very well be the third time these two teams play in one season as both are favorites to reach the Big Ten title game. It would be unprecedented for a three-time matchup, but college football is in unprecedented times and it would create quite the rivalry.

The Sporting News predicts Florida’s 2024 bowl destination

The Sporting News thinks Florida will return to the bowl game slate this season at the same venue it last played in.

Florida football faces arguably the toughest schedule among FBS schools in 2024 but [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and the Gators are up for the challenge. Most of the prognosticators are predicting somewhere between a five and six-win season — the latter of which would punch their ticket to the postseason.

The Sporting News writer Bill Bender submitted his early predictions for next winter’s bowl schedule and included the Orange and Blue, somewhat surprisingly. He expects Florida to face the TCU Horned Frogs in the SDS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 27 after missing out on the extra game in 2023.

Florida’s history in Las Vegas Bowl

The Gators have participated in the Sin City event just once, which happens to be the last bowl game they played in. Napier’s squad took a beating from the Oregon State Beavers, 30-3, sending them to their third-straight loss overall and doomed the program to its second-straight losing season.

Florida’s 2024 season opener

The Florida and the Miami Hurricanes open their schedule on Aug. 31 in Gainesville, Florida. Kickoff time is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

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Ivan Pace, Jr. named to The Sporting News’ top 25 under 25 team

Minnesota linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. went from undrafted free agent to one of the league’s best young linebackers in just one season.

It’s not uncommon to see undrafted free agents make the team in the NFL. In fact, according to Yahoo! Sports, from 2019-2023, well over 400 undrafted free agents went on to not only make their team but reach the team’s starting lineup.

What’s more rare, though, is an undrafted free agent playing so well that he becomes somewhat of a household name. That’s becoming a reality for Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. Pace went undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft but quickly worked his way into the lineup and has become one of the league’s rising young stars, according to The Sporting News.

In his list of the top 25 players in the league under 25 years old, Vinnie Iyer put Pace on the team in one of his three linebacker spots, saying:

The undrafted gem from Miami (Ohio) was on the field everywhere making big plays for Brian Flores as a rookie in 2023. He can become more prolific out of the gate this season.

Pace earned his spot on The Sporting News’ list by being a productive player in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ defensive scheme at all levels. Pace’s rookie season ended with him notching 102 tackles while also accounting for two tackles-for-loss, nine quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks.

But Pace wasn’t just a force at or behind the line of scrimmage. Pace also had two passes defended and one interception while playing in all 17 games for the Vikings, with 11 starts.

It truly was an exceptional rookie season for the young linebacker—one worthy of praise and likely worthy of an expanded role for Flores’ defense in year two.

Sporting News predicts Clemson makes the 2025 college football playoffs

All they need is a chance, right?

This is the first year of the newly expanded playoffs. Eight more teams will compete to play in the national championship game on January 20, 2025. No other is breathing a sigh of relief more than Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers.

To quote the great American track and field athlete, Jesse Owens, “One chance is all you need.” After a down year, that’s all the Tigers are asking for: a chance. All they need is an opportunity to be in the playoffs and play against teams from across the country. The Sporting News predicts that Clemson will get that chance.

In his 2024 Bowl projections, Bill Bender of Sporting News predicts Clemson to face Alabama in Tuscaloosa on December 20 as the No. 9 seed. “Alabama and Clemson – which met in the four-team CFP era four times – fittingly start the 12-team CFP era in a battle of at-large teams. Dabo Swinney has to go to Tuscaloosa for that one,” writes Bender.

Unfortunately, Bender predicts Clemson will lose in the first round. Even if that’s the case, making the playoffs should at least relieve some of the pressure on Dabo Swinney after his ardent stance on the transfer portal.

Here is how Bender predicts the rest of the playoffs to play out:

First Round

Dec. 20 First-Round CFP game No. 9 Clemson at No. 8 Alabama
Dec. 21 First-Round CFP game No. 12 Memphis at No. 5 Texas
Dec. 21 First-Round CFP game No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 7 Oregon
Dec. 21 First-Round CFP game No. 11 Michigan at No. 6 Notre Dame

Quarterfinals

Dec. 31 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (quarterfinal) No. 3 Utah vs. No. 6 Notre Dame
Jan. 1 Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (quarterfinal) No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama
Jan. 1 Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential (quarterfinal) No. 2 Ohio St vs. No. 7 Oregon
Jan. 1 Allstate Sugar Bowl (quarterfinal) No. 4 Florida St vs. No. 5 Texas

Semifinals

Jan. 9 Capital One Orange Bowl (semifinal) No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 5 Texas
Jan. 10 Cotton Bowl Classic (semifinal) No. 2 Ohio St vs. No. 6 Notre Dame

Championship game

Jan. 20 CFP National championship No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 2 Ohio St

 

NFL Draft prospect Edgerrin Cooper earns Sporting News Second Team All-American selection

Cooper has been racking up the accolades and added another on Wednesday morning, being named to The Sporting News All-America Second Team.

Texas A&M junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is officially headed to the league after declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft on Tuesday.

Cooper has been racking up the accolades as of late and added another on Wednesday morning. His latest achievement is being named to The Sporting News All-America Second Team.

 

Hours after officially declaring for the draft, Cooper was ranked by ESPN NFL Draft & college football analyst Jordan Reid as the No. 1 linebacker on his big board.

Cooper has stacked several awards following the regular season and added another Monday with an AP First Team All-American selection. The superstar junior earned a First Team All-SEC nod from the league’s coaches following the conclusion of conference play.

In 2021, Cooper was chosen for the SEC All-Freshman team. Two years later, he started at linebacker in every game for the Aggies to earn an All-SEC First Team selection. With 17 tackles for loss in 2023, Cooper ranked fifth among Power Five players. He recorded team highs of 83 total tackles and eight sacks to rank sixth and fourth in the SEC, respectively.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

College football: Sporting News releases post-spring top 25 poll

Another day and another post-spring college football top 25. Did this one get Notre Dame the most right yet?

As we’ve discussed this week has been a big week for post-spring college football rankings.  I’m not going to lie, it seems a little bit absurd to put a whole lot into what is said with over 100 days until the season kicks off.

However.

There is almost always a however.

I’m no idiot, either.  I see the numbers that these rankings do whenever they’re posted so since you the people want them then we’ll continue to post and share them.

The latest comes from Bill Bender of The Sporting News.  He put out his piece on college football’s post-spring top 25 on Thursday.  In it Notre Dame found a top-1o landing spot so they check in higher than ESPN had them but lower than what USA TODAY Sports said earlier in the week.

Perhaps the surprise isn’t that Notre Dame is tenth, that’s right about where we would have them if we did our own, but some of the teams they’re both ahead of and trail stick out the most.  Here is Bender and The Sporting News’ entire top 25: